Wednesday, October 6, 2010

First, we would like to congratulate our two first-year representatives:

Lindsi M. Lara-Perez

&

Sarah Jane Smallwood

They will play an important role in helping us organize and publicize events for students!

As the fall approaches, START is beginning plans for its annual Rally for Service. This is a week long event (October 25th-29th) that involves all graduate students and encourages students to volunteer in a variety of ways. This year, we are holding the event on the week of Halloween and having a food drive, clothing drive, penny war, cookie decorating, and a final celebration event!

Students choose teams and represent a nonprofit. They then compete for points all week through these service events. The team with the most points at the end wins all the money raised for their organization. This provides a fun break for students and a chance to give back to the local Bloomington community, two of the most important values for START.

After Rally, START will begin preparations for the annual Giving Tree and caroling!

Saturday, September 11, 2010

START's call-out meeting will be this Wednesday, September 15th at 3:00PM in the SPEA Grad Lounge. At the meeting we will be discussing various upcoming volunteer projects, first year elections, and our exciting Rally for Service week-long event! Don't miss the chance to learn more about START!

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

START kicked off the year with a service-day orientation event for new graduate students. We had approximately 80 students volunteer at 9 nonprofits around the community including Area 10 Agency on Aging, Girls Inc., the YMCA, Wonderlab, Stepping Stones, Bloomington Parks and Recreation, Middle Way House, Boys and Girls Club, and the Environmental Management Association.

Students participated in a variety of activities including reorganizing a food pantry, painting, gardening, and cleaning a park. We were so excited that so many students participated.

Look for details of our call-out meeting in the next couple of weeks! START is excited to plan a Rally for Service in the month of October and collaborate with the Nonprofit Management Association to bring you relevant and fun volunteer opportunities.

All you have to provide is your e-mail address and a quick click to vote!

Note: Many of the organizations START and SPEA partner with are also nominated for this award. Besides this "People's Choice" nomination, START is in the running for a "formal" student organization award. Please take the time to read through the list of nominees.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

The American Cancer Society's annual fundraiser will be coming to Bloomington March 22-26. Individuals will have the opportunity to order daffodils as a means to bring spring a little early while contributing to a great cause. The American Cancer Society is looking for volunteers – anyone from students to faculty and staff – to assist in taking orders for daffodils among friends, co-workers and peers now through March 12. There is also a need for assembly and delivery drivers to help deliver these delightful flowers on Wednesday, March 24. To help make a difference in the fight against cancer through Daffodil Days, contact Andrea Curtis French, American Cancer Society Staff Partner, at andrea.curtis.frech@cancer.org or 812.336.8423.

Thanks to everyone who sent in new officer nominations! Your nominations were unanimous. Susanna Foxworthy and Lindsay Walker will be taking over the reins as your new Co-Presidents, and Caleb Baker is heading up Blood Drives, along with assisting Lindsay and Susanna throughout the year.

Friday, January 22, 2010

**Submit nominees for February VOLUNTEER of the MONTH by midnight, Wednesday, January 27th

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Also, see message below about a service opportunity with Bowl for Kids' Sake. The interest meeting is Tuesday, January 26th.

SPEA START,

My name is Hani Bashour and I'm a first-year MPA candidate. My Service Corps placement is Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana, and we are in the middle of our largest annual fundraiser, the Bowl for Kids' Sake. I passed out some fliers which may have reached START already, but I thought I would email you to be sure.

We are deseperately looking for teams of students to participate in the event, where participating means forming a fundraising team, raising money together, and then bowling as a team in the IU Bowl for Kids' Sake in early March. It's hard work, but it will be a lot of fun.

The callout meeting is next Tuesday, January 26th at 8:30 p.m. in Ballantine 149. Any START speons who think they might be interested and would like to learn more are welcome and needed! If the time/date doesn't work, though, please email me. I would be happy to provide details by email or in person to anyone who might be interested.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

We are collecting donations from the entire SPEA commuity for the Haiti Earthquake. All donations will be sent to Oxfam America, an international relief and development organization that creates lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and injustice. Together with individuals and local groups in more than 100 countries, Oxfam saves lives, helps people overcome poverty, and fights for social justice. Oxfam America is an affiliate of Oxfam International. Oxfam has a staff of 200 stationed in Haiti, including a highly trained emergency response team of between 10 and 15 members who are well-versed in urban work. Oxfam affiliates have been working in Haiti since 1978. Oxfam America is a Better Business Bureau Accredited Charity, a four-star charity from Charity Navigator, and received an "A-" from Charity Watch's American Institute of Philanthropy. For more information on Oxfam America, or to make a donation by credit card, please visit their website at http://www.oxfamamerica.org/.

Please donate any amount within your means to one of the two collection cans located in the MPA/MSES Program Office and the Graduate Student Lounge. All donations will be promptly sent to Oxfam America for Haiti Earthquake disaster management and to assist victims of the earthquake. Please make checks payable to Oxfam America with "Haiti Earthquake Response Fund" in the memo line. Thank you for your compassion and support as we stand in solidarity with the people of Haiti.